**WARNING**
IMHO it is imperative that you keep an eye on your NCB and demand a letter stating exactly what your record is. Don't let them waffle their way out of giving it to you.
I have 11 years no claims. This is constantly giving me a headache at renewal/change of insurer.
I was with Tesco, and when I went to them in 2002 I gave them a letter saying I had 8 years. Before I took out the policy I asked CS (customer service) when it came to renewal would they supply me with a letter stating I had 9 years, she said 'yes'.
Ok so I took the policy and stayed with them for 3 years. The in between years I was never given anything saying more than 6 years, no problem because I wasn't changing insurer. Until now, I have have changed insurer this year to Nationwide. Whilst Nationwide only goes up to 5 years or more, there are companies out there who accept more than 5 years. and if I accept a letter from Tesco now which is innaccurate then I will have lost my true record.
I asked Tesco CS last week to send me a letter saying 11 years, and the guy I spoke to agreed it was 11 years and I would recieve such in a letter. Today the letter arrived saying 6 years. And so starts the merry-go-round.
I phone up Tesco and the usual arguements come back at me.
"we only go up to 5 years or more"
"no other company goes over 5 years"
"no other company goes over 65%"
Ergo it is irrelevant what you are asking for and we only issue letters saying "5 years" (even though mine said "6 years")
My responses to them:
"It is irrelevant what *you* go up to, other companies go over 5 years and I need to keep an accurate record, When I arrived here in 2002 I supplied a letter saying 8 years."
"Many companies do go over 5 years, Frizzell and Esure are two but there must be more."
"Many companies do go over 65%, Frizzell, Esure, Norwich Union are just 3 to name a few."
The merry-go-round continues until they finally conceded to send me a letter saying 11 years. Took at least 15 mins on the phone...luckily I had phoned via their head office freephone 0800 number and asked to be "put through"....see this website..."saynoto0870.com".
Frizzell goes up to 9 years and offer up to 68% or 70% for those with 9 years.
Esure goes upto 20years iirc and offers upto 75% for those people - though I have not confirmed exactly who gets the 75% and what is the meaning of them asking about ncb upto 20 years. It may just be that although Esure is not competitive to me at the moment with 11 years, in 5 years time when I have 16 years, they may be the cheapest. I have to be able to prove my 16 years at that time.
I hope you all keep your records accurate. If these companies are going to offer more than 65% for more than 5 years then *all* the companies should be aware of this and supply the accurate details upon renewal.
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E-sure is 70% @ 5 yrs NCB. If you are insured with them (only them) then the NCB increases 1% / yr above 70% making 75% NCB the maximum that they allow after 10yrs claim free.
If anyone comes along and says 10 yrs, 20 yrs etc they will get 70% NCB and have to work up to 75%
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Fair enough but why do they ask on their site for up to 20 years?
Frizzell on the other hand will give 65% to people with 5years, and will accept people with more than 5years and give them additional discounts accordingly. Upto 9 years.
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Ignoring this and that benefit that may or may not apply with any given insurer (and hence influence decision making) surely the percentage discount is irrelevant; it is the end result of the premium that matters.
So, if the maths in my head are correct; arbitarily 65% from insurer X on a gross premium of £500 will save you £35 compared to 70% on a gross premium of £700 from insurer Y.
The same applies to protecting NCD. Sure, it might well be protected but if the renwal premium is hiked by an extra amount before applying the NCD, it might count for 'owt. In fact it might count for worse than 'owt if you actually paid for the privilege of protecting it.
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But to ignore a potential saving - resulting from you having an accurate ncd record - would not be sensible. Yes what matters is who is cheapest, and in my case it is Nationwide. But if you are not giving yourself all the advantage that you know you have then you are starting off on the wrong foot.
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Suggest that asking Tesco to confirm years without a claim as opposed to years NCB might have been smoother.
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Actually I happen to agree with you. Obviously its possible to get too silly about it, but it is likely to matter more in the future than it does now.
There was a time when 4 years NCD was it. These days it is 6 or so. Who is to say that in years to come it will not be considerably more.
However, I wouldn't abuse insurers for it too much, it is somewhat outside their current experience. They'll get the hang of it in the end.
Just don't make the mistake of trying to relate it to NCD. You should be asking for evidence on x years of claims free driving, irrespective of how many years of NCD that gives you.
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I am very pleased that Norwich union seems to have increased their no NCD. When I was with them a it only went up to 4 years so a VERY minor claim on from another party, (there was no damage to our car) put my NCD from 25 years down to TWO.
I haven't been with them since.
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